Dayton Escapes Major Cutbacks

DAYTON - Although they're toeing the line, Merle Jackson and the Dayton city finance committee believe they'll be able to hold for another year without losses.

Monday night, city coun­cil member Jackson, repre­senting the committee, pre­sented the town's proposed 2011 budget to his fellow council members and a small audience at city hall.

The first draft of this de­finitive document was well received by those present.

"I think we are blessed in this city," said Dayton Mayor Craig George. "Times are tough, and they're going to get tougher." Washington cities are all in the same boat, he said. But big cities are in a worse place. The consensus Monday night: all appreciated the hard work and dedication to maintaining the city at cur­rent standards put forth by the handful of folk tasked with balancing the budget. And it does balance, though it pushes hard against that line. With projected ex­penses at $4.2 million, an in­crease of 3 percent from this year's budget, and expected revenues at $4.1 million, a 2 percent increase from 2010, some reserves may have to be tapped.

"This is our best guess," Jackson said. "It's a good framework, but there will be some fine tuning as we go through. We tried to maintain a bare bones budget and still provide quality services."

Who knows what will happen, Mayor George re­minded the council and au­dience, if certain initiatives on the table pass the Nov. 2 election. Moving liquor sales into the private sector, for example, would cost the city thousands, he said. The finance committee will not recommend a prop­erty tax increase for 2011, Jackson said. This is the third consecutive year the commit­tee has held off on property tax changes. But utility rates will go up. Aside from a recently proposed 21-percent rate increase from Pacific Power, Dayton residents are looking at a 3 percent increase for garbage collection in 2011. That will amount to about 51 cents more per month. Sewer rates will go up 6 percent, for an additional $2.61 per month. And water will in­crease 3 percent, or 94 cents per month. "All of our water comes from deep wells," Jackson said. "We just don't know what those electrical rates will be. This is our best guess at the moment." What Jackson is more concerned about is a new wastewater treatment plant project coming down the pike. The state has demanded that Dayton upgrade the cur­rent

sewage treatment system by 2018, and this has Jackson and his fellow finance leaders in a cold sweat. "We are being tasked with what I consider an impos­sible challenge," Jackson said Monday night. Current and future boosts to sewer rates will be made with an eye toward that goal, he said. What will not increase, however, are wages for city employees. For the first time in a long time, Jackson said, city workers will take a "zero percent" increase. But union officials are simply relieved that Dayton won't be making any cuts. "It took the unions about seven minutes to say, 'We understand,'" Mayor George said. "They're just glad to have jobs."

In Walla Walla, he contin­ued, the city is cutting posi­tions and handing out fur­loughs, or temporary leaves of absence, to city workers in order to balance the budget.

Dayton officials plan to maintain the current level of service provided by the city. Emphasis will remain focused on safety projects, including the proposed pe­destrian crossing on East Main Street at the top of the hill, Jackson said. The city plans to keep its pool and skate park open, continue to make improve­ments at the park and the transfer station, and create a pothole inventory to help city workers plan repair projects. And yes - the alley behind the bakery and theater is still slated for improvements next year, he said. The draft 2011 budget is available for the public to view. Questions and com­ments should be directed to City Clerk Trina Cole, though George and Jackson said they would welcome any input as well.

"We've taken a hard look, but please go through it with a fine-tooth comb and let us know what you think," Jackson told councilors and audience members Monday.